It's Been Awhile...

If you read our blog, you've probably noticed that Breanna and I haven't posted in awhile. I had previously been good about posting 5 times a month, but lately, that hasn't happened. I only did one post in September, and this is my first one this month. I guess you could say that high school has officially caught up with Breanna and me. We've been busy this semester with sports and school, but hopefully we'll be better about posting soon. I only have one week of cross country left.

Ironically, I had been working on a September post about priorities. I guess mine haven't exactly been in order lately, but it's something I've been praying about.

A passage I've been meditating on lately is Ephesians 1:3-6:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Our Sunday school teacher has been teaching on this the past couple weeks, and the phrase "to the praise of the glory of His grace" has been our main focus. Everything we do should be to give glory to God. This thought is very convicting to me. No matter what we do, God should guide us.

Ephesians 1:4

Just a thought for today...
Ephesians 1:4-5 ~ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

I just really think this verse paints a beautiful picture of what Christ has done for us. Not only has He saved us from our sins, but He chose us before the world even began. Christ adopted us into His family to be His sons (and daughters:)). He transformed our lives from those full of sin and bondage to those full of blessing in the family of God.
When Martin Luther "rebelled" against the Catholic Church, these verses were some of the ones that he studied. The doctrine is called Predestination. Martin Luther knew that the church was hiding very many important truths from its people. In those days, only the priests really had access to a Bible. The church members just had to have faith in the priest that he was telling them the truth. Unfortunately, many times, he wasn't.
Anyway, that's enough of a history lesson. So, next time you feel unloved, remember that Christ not only loves you, He has always loved you. Before the world began, He had aleady chosen you for his child. Never forget that!

Ephesians 3

I know I have done alot of posts on Ephesians, and I hope you haven't grown tired of them yet but I do have one more (that I know of) to do.

• We are nothing without God.
• We must admit that we don't have the ability to do something or say something without God.
• God has created all things and we thank God for giving us all things.
• We are dependent on Christ and we need Him always.
• We need the Lord to help us thru our trials.
• God's purpose for creation is that it will bring Him glory.
• Glorify God even in trials because God will help you thru that trial.
• Goal: Glorify God thru your trials and He will bless you!!!!!
• We should not be afraid to wittiness to people because spreading God's Word is a good thing.
• God will give you alot of opportunities!
• Trust in God because He is Truth.
• Pray and God will answer.
• God has always been and always will be and will always be there for you.

Ephesians 1:14-23

I was looking through and old church notebook and found another page on Ephesians. I thought I'd share them with you today.

• God's master plan is to bring glory to Himself and His method His redemption.
• God fills all in all. Christ is the fullness of all things.
• God's goal is for Him to be glorified.
• We are the body of the church, not the building.
• What happens to the church happens to Christ also.
• Always do 'God honoring' things.
• Christ's glory is accomplished through the church (His body).
• Christ is the head; We are the body
• Do not cease to give thanks to God.
• Love is not just a feeling! It's a passion.
• Be kind. Even if you don't like them.
• Strive and work for love.
• Grow to be more like Christ.
• Our mission is to glorify God by exalting God.

Ephesians 6 (vs. 5-9)

Ephesians 6:5-9

• A church must have unity for the purpose of bringing God glory.
• Children obey your parents in the Lord.
• Have respect for those around you.
• Be obedient to those who are in authority over you. (elders)
• We should be kind and generous to those under you.
• Christ is our ultimate authority.
• We need to have respect to all authority.
• Fear of God keeps everything in check.
• Be true to your authorities. NO lies!!!!
• Our submission to earthly authority reflects what our relationship and submissions to Christ.
• In obeying our authority we're obeying Christ.
• We should serve always not just when 'someone' is looking.
• "We should obey authority!"
• Be obedient to your earthly masters.
• We are all equally condemned but all believers are equally saved.
• We are all under authority!
• Obey!!!
• Masters: Be kind and do the same as the servants do. (All of the above)
• We (Christians) are Christs' completely!!

Ephesians 6

Ephesians 6

• God should be in all relationships.
• Chapter 6: Parent - Child relationship - vs.1-4
• We bring glory to God by submitting to one another.
• We need to be Christ-like in our relationships.
• Glorify God by demonstrating Christ likeness in our relationships.
• Obey your parents.
• Honor your father and mother.
• Have a good attitude about obeying and honoring your parents
• vs. 1- Chapter 6
• A child's attitude towards their parents reflects their relationship with God
• Hosea 14
• The way God designed it is for us to obey our parents.
• vs. 3 The promise to vs. 2
• Obeying your parents promises spiritual blessings.
• Honoring your parents promises honor from God.
• We should submit to our parents.
• The way you respond to your parents reflects your relationship with God.
• vs. 4; Parents do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admiration of the Lord (NKJV)
• Children generally model after their parents.
• Parents need to be a good, Christian roll model for their children with their focus on Christ.
• Your focus should be on Christ and on following His standards as closely as you can.
• We should be showing what Christ is doing in our lives.

Ephesians 3

Here are some more points I found in an old notebook. Enjoy!

Ephesians 3

• We need to live a life thru the Holy Spirit.
• Scope of Paul's Prayer - vs.19 - He wants people to know about the love of Christ.
• Be filled with the Holy Spirit.
• The presence on the Holy Spirit is evidence you are a Christian.
• The Holy Spirit is God
• The Spirit of God has a will.
• The Holy Spirit is God.
• Thru the Holy Spirit we can understand the Word of God

Ephesians 5

I was looking through my old church notes and found a few little notes on Ephesians 5.

Ephesians 5

• We are dead in our sins but we are alive in Christ.


• When we are believers in Christ we look like Christ and are in unity with one another.


• We need to submit to one another in the fear of God (v.21) ( in reverence to Christ).


• We should respect one another.


• We should have a relationship with God.